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Results of Reporting RequirementsOSHA released new information on workplace injuries in 2015.

OSHA Releases Results of New Injury Reporting RequirementsOSHA recently released the results of its new injury reporting requirements, implemented at the beginning of 2015. Under the new system, employers must report any severe work-related injury within 24 hours, such as a hospitalization, amputation or the loss of an eye. Additionally, workplace fatalities must be reported within eight hours.

In 2015, employers reported 10,388 severe injuries, including 7,636 hospitalizations and 2,644 amputations. OSHA also stated that the new reporting program identifies how the agency can more effectively guide resources to engage employers and protect workers.

In addition to the results from the new reporting requirements, OSHA also released guidance that increased the penalty for failing to report severe injuries to $5,000—up from the previous recommendation of $1,000. The guidance also authorized area OSHA offices to conduct “monitoring inspections” of employers who were not inspected after reporting a serious injury. OSHA stated that it hopes more employers will follow the new reporting requirements as a result of these changes.

For more information on OSHA injury reporting requirements, contact The Insurance Exchange today.

Repeated Violations A roofing company faces severe fines for failing to address fall and other hazards.

Ammonia Leak at Food DistributorA leading food distributor failed to maintain equipment and implement response plans.

Roofing Company Continuously Violates Fall and Eye Protection Standards According to OSHA, Jasper Contractors Inc., a Georgia-based roofing company, has ignored numerous safety standards and exposed workers to significant hazards for a number of years. Since 2009, OSHA has conducted 13 inspections of Jasper Contractors worksites, resulting in 24 citations and an estimated $516,000 in fines.

During OSHA’s two most recent inspections in 2015, Jasper Contractors was cited with two “willful” violations for not ensuring that workers were properly using fall protection systems. As a result, workers were regularly exposed to falls from heights of up to 13 feet while performing re-roofing activities.

Additionally, OSHA cited the company for failing to provide workers with proper eye and face protection. Recently, OSHA has revised its standards for eye and face protection in a number of industries, including construction, longshoring and general industry. The new rule is an update that brings OSHA standards in line with national consensus standards approved by the American National Standards Institute.

The easiest way to avoid costly OSHA fines is to ensure the safety of your workers and worksite and to remain in compliance with federal standards. Contact our team today at 301-279-5500; we can provide you with comprehensive and industry-specific resources to help ensure the success of your operations.

Anhydrous Ammonia Leak at Leading Food DistributorOSHA recently found a dangerous ammonia leak at one of the nation’s largest food distributors. During an inspection of a Reinhart Foodservice facility, OSHA discovered that approximately 9 pounds of anhydrous ammonia had leaked in a pump room, and that ammonia sensors had failed to sound an alarm as expected.

Additionally, inspectors discovered the following deficiencies in the facility’s refrigeration system, which uses nearly 30,000 pounds of ammonia:

Failing to maintain valves and sensors up to the manufacturer’s recommendations

Not ensuring that safety hazard alarms worked properly Not implementing an adequate emergency response plan, including a failure

to identify first responders’ maximum ammonia exposure limits

A leak of any amount of anhydrous ammonia could have exposed Reinhart Foodservice’s employees to severe health hazards, and, as a result, OSHA cited the company for six “serious” and two “repeated” violations. These violations are accompanied by $72,000 in proposed fines.

For more information on chemical hazards, take a look at OSHA’s Highly Hazardous Chemicals Fact Sheet.